Why hate Mary?

I walked out of my apartment the other day and the air smelled like weed. I first thought it was my Dukes of Hazard neighbors, but there’s a possibility it was just post rain smell. For some reason they smell similar to me in the South. But this, mixed with a few other conversations as of late, got me thinking.

Smoking pot is completely illegal in Alabama. It’s not just a slap on the wrist like it used to be in California. And you can’t use it medically or get a medical card. Like I said, it’s completely illegal.
The Bible says to follow the laws of the land and pray for those in leadership, so from a Christian stand point, if you want to obey the Bible, you shouldn’t smoke pot if you live in Alabama.

But what about the states where it has been legalized such as Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and California?
See, the Bible doesn’t say anything specifically about smoking anything, or really anything about drugs at all. Yes, in Titus it talks about being sober minded, but that also applies to drinking, and a lot of Christians drink.
I personally believe that anything can become sinful if it excessive. I like to say, “anything in excess.” So if you’re in a state where it is legalized, go for it, or don’t, just don’t let it take over your life.

So why do so many Christians freak out about it, even in those legal states? Is this something they didn’t think they were going to be confronted with? Seriously, I’m asking. Well, maybe don’t answer me though.
Someone close to me was rumored to have been smoking pot. Which, whether that was true or wasn’t true isn’t the issue (it wasn’t true and most likely will never be true). But someone was telling people to stay away from this person close to me because they smoked pot. And that just doesn’t seem to be a good enough reason. That’s like telling people to stay away from me because I drink wine. Sure, if you have an issue drinking and expect me to offer you wine, maybe let me know, and if you really think it’s an issue, stay away from me.
If someone had a problem with marijuana or was trying to stay away from it, I could see why they might let this person close to me know why they might want to spend less time together. But the thing is, the rumor wasn’t true. So the person close to me called me laughing, because they thought the whole thing was funny, or at least pretended to. But I’m not okay with gossip or slander. Especially from Christians. Especially from Christians who are supposed to be in high standing and have influence.
Why do we feel the need to talk about people? Even when we don’t know the facts? Ugh, it’s just so frustrating, and I’m across the country and can’t protect my people.

But really, this shouldn’t be an issue at all. Because in California marijuana is legalized. It’s fully legal now, but has been medically legal for quite some time. So Christians freaking out about it doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not saying whether you yourself should smoke it not, this isn’t about that. It’s about the thoughts and the fears behind it.

I’m not saying that Christians should or shouldn’t advocate for Mary Jane. That’s not what I’m doing. It’s not even legal where I currently reside. But stop being afraid. Stop spreading rumors and shunning people because you heard they might have smoked pot. It should not matter.

Why don’t we love each other anymore? This is why it’s so hard for me to trust.